This is the latest update on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is in its 10th day:
Suspended humanitarian corridors: Ukrainian authorities halted evacuations from the besieged city of Mariupol on Saturday, accusing Russian forces of violating an agreement to stop fire and give civilians safe passage.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday night that it would resume the offensive in Mariupol and Volnovakha.
In a statement to Russian news agency TASS, the Defense Ministry said that “no civilians have managed to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha through the announced security corridors”.
The Defense Ministry had said on Saturday that it would stop bombing cities, which have suffered days of heavy and indiscriminate bombing. But just hours after the fire break was announced, a senior regional official said Russia had broken the deal.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also said it “understands” that the evacuations of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha will not take place this Saturday as planned.
Putin says sanctions equal declaration of war: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that the sanctions introduced on his country are “equivalent to a declaration of war”.
Putin also said he would consider countries that impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine as participants in the conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly called on NATO and Western officials to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which the US and NATO have said they oppose. Zelensky urged US lawmakers via Zoom to help establish a no-fly zone and tougher Russian sanctions.
Ukrainian officials praise the protests: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted a video of two cities in Ukraine – Berdyansk and Kherson – showing protests against Russian occupation.
THE CNN confirmed that there had been protests against Russian occupation in both cities on Saturday, as well as at least one in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region.
A new video posted on social media shows at least one man being shot at during a protest against the Russian military in the small town of Novopskov in northeastern Ukraine. CNN confirmed the authenticity of the video.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate: as cities come under heavy bombing, some Ukrainian officials say people lack basic access to food, water and medicine.
The US Secretary of State visited a refugee center in Poland, where several people from Ukraine continued to arrive at the border. The UN estimates that more than 1.3 million refugees have fled since 24 February.
Source: CNN Brasil
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